A  VISIT  TO  A  SUSSEX  HOP  GARDEN. 
81 
readiness  to  answer  our  numerous  questions,  we  take  our  leave, 
and  are  very  glad  to  be  again  in  the  pure  country  air  after  such 
a  subjection  to  the  sulphurous  influence  of  an  oast-house. 
We  are  told  the  picking  lasts  from  three  to  six  weeks,  accord- 
ing to  the  productiveness  of  the  year.  The  hop-dryers  and  pole- 
pullers  are  well  paid,  and  the  pickers  often  earn  a  good  round 
sum,  and  in  fine  weather,  such  as  we  had  in  September,  1865, 
really  rather  enjoy  the  change  than  otherwise  ;  bnt  this  year  the 
weather  during  the  picking  season  was  very  bad,  and  detracted 
from  their  pleasure  and  added  much  to  their  discomfort. 
Hop-growing  has  of  late  become  a  popular  source  of  agricul- 
ture, and  our  continental  friends  are  striving  in  every  way  to 
compete  with  us,  and  I  believe  the  French  intend  holding  an  ex- 
hibition of  hops  and  brewing  utensils  in  order  to  further  their 
knowledge  in  this  respect. 
It  is  a  curious  thing  how  times  change.  Of  course  we  all  know 
a  great  many  English  and  foreign  hops  are  annually  consumed 
in  the  process  of  brewing,  and  yet  (I  think  I  am  not  in  error)  in 
the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  a  person  was  arrested  on  the  charge, 
for  that  he  did  wilfully  and  knowingly  use  for  the  purpose  of 
brewing  beer  a  noxious  weed,  to  wit,  the  hop,  which  at  that  early 
period  was  a  common  weed,  as  we  sometimes  now  see  it  growing 
wild  in  our  hedge-rows ;  but  cultivation  and  attention  have 
brought  it  to  its  present  beautifully  graceful,  ornamental,  and 
highly  useful  state  of  perfection ;  and  no  doubt  the  majority  of 
our  readers  enjoy  to  quaff  a  draught  of  that  delicious  beverage 
which  depends  so  much  upon  its  prudent  admixture.  So  far  as 
pharmacy  is  concerned,  we  have  not  much  to  thank  the  Humulus 
lupidus  for,  and  I  know  of  nothing  very  remarkable  either  in 
the  extract  or  tincture,  except  that  the  latter  is  sometimes  very 
obstinate  about  becoming  clear,  even  after  the  infliction  of  re- 
peated filtrations,  and  that  it  is  now  frequently  prescribed  in 
conjunction  with  carbolic  acid  as  an  inhalation  in  pulmonary 
affections. 
When  our  curiosity  is  gratified  with  regard  to  the  picking, 
drying,  and  storing  of  hops,  we  start  on  our  homeward  walk,  and 
reach  the  town  as  the  shades  of  evening  draw  near,  much  grati- 
fied with  our  day's  amusement.    We  trust  those  of  our  readers 
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